The healing friendship between the little girl and the gentle rescue dog has touched hearts across the world; with many people being able to relate to the pain of bereavement being eased by a beloved pet.

One person commented:

We got a dog after my dad died when I was a kid , it is like she was an angel sent from heaven to help us through.

Another said:

No matter what a dog has been through they will always have the love to give. Dogs are so loving kind and understand how your feeling. As long as they’re loved and feel safe and get taken care of, you will truly have a friend for life.

Dogs are of course known as man’s best friend for a reason. Many dogs perform a vital service as therapy dogs; their sweet nature proving to be profoundly therapeutic for those who have suffered a bereavement.

According to the website Therapy Dogs, dogs are sometimes employed by funeral homes to offer emotional support to devastated relatives:

Not only do therapy dogs provide comfort, they also help improve overall mental and physical health. Petting a therapy dog increases serotonin and dopamine levels in our brain, which improves our mood by lowering stress, anxiety, and depression.

Petting a therapy dog also lowers blood pressure and helps those who are feeling lonely, which could be the case for someone who lost a loved one.

Therapy dogs have the innate ability to sense a person’s emotional needs and act on them with unconditional love. Since those who are grieving may experience many of these emotions, therapy dogs make the perfect companion to help ease anxiety and confusion of death.

It can simply be the therapy dog’s presence that distracts from stress and grief, even if for a moment or two.

Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications. When not Lad-ing about, she enjoys cooking, reading and trying not to fall over in Yoga.